Buti Manamela criticises FYL
By Edward Rababalela
There was a battle of ideas during the Numsa youth forum (NYF) conference at the Lakeside Hotel in Benoni on October 12-14 2012
The guest speakers were the leader of the Young Communist League of South Africa-Ufasimba (YCL-SA), Buti Manamela, and ANC Youth League deputy president Ronald Lamola.
Manamela lambasted the current capitalist class, the bourgeoisie, saying that it continues to detrimentally affect the working class.
He reiterated that the youth formations of South Africa must take radical steps in building the South African economy. His speech touched on many challenges which affect youth on a daily basis.
He argued that the working class must develop class consciousness so that workers have a progressive world view: “The Numsa youth forum has a huge impact on the lives of people because it is the basis of new leadership in South Africa.”
He said that youth must never forget that capitalism will be defeated through struggle. Manamela further applauded the NYF as the political school of Numsa. He deliberately touched on the issue of the Friends of the Youth League: “There is no such thing as friends of the youth league, just a lobby group trying to discredit President Zuma.”
He encouraged the youth to fight for what they believe in, so that South Africa can be powerful economically, and to be robust and politically conscious in order to face the struggle.
“As youth, you must not fear or be co-opted by some people just because they have some interests at heart other than yours. You must not be bought by some groups to fight on their behalf; we must continue to retain our leadership so that we can achieve our Polokwane resolutions in 2007.”
The YCLSA will contribute positively in the debates around policy and leadership building up to Mangaung conference in December, said Manamela.
The ANCYL call for nationalisation continues!
Ronald Lamola stole the limelight at the conference in Benoni, and received a standing ovation from the youth. With his slogan “Economic freedom in our lifetime” no one could have kept him quiet, and the conference roared for him before he gave his speech.
He gave a clear picture of the significance of the youth of a country. “The youth is the important investment in a country; you are the future general secretary of Numsa and the future of Cosatu’s collective bargaining.
“Numsa Youth League must be responsible and make sure that your leadership goes beyond the union.”
It would be impossible for any revolutionary leader to give a speech without remarking on the recent Marikana saga. Lamola emphasised that NUM has lost contact with its members and that as a result there ae strikes. “Even its leader, when he talks, you may mistake him and think that he is the CEO of Anglo American.”
He outlined the importance of youth by reminding delegates that the ANC we see today was formed by young minds like that of Pixley ka Seme. He stressed that the struggle for economic freedom can be achieved by the youth.
“Capitalism under the apartheid regime was structured in a manner that it reproduces itself even in the democratic South Africa. So to avoid capitalism, we must make sure that we implement the Freedom Charter which was adopted in Kliptown on 26 June 1955,” he said.
“The rugby world cup, soccer world cup or Oscar Pistorius will never unite South Africa; the economy is the only tool which will unite us. We will never have a rainbow nation; we will have a cosmetic rainbow nation,” said Lamola.
Though Lamola would not say who he thought should be elected as leaders in Mangaung, he argued that “we must ensure that we elect a leader who will implement the Freedom Charter, that’s all we want.”
After listening to the speech of Lamola, a young man who grew up in a poverty-stricken environment but struggled to the top through hard work, I became convinced that nationalisation is imminent.